Organ donation

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Organ donation is the gift of an organ to help someone who needs a transplant. Approximately 2,700 organ transplants are carried out each year.

More than 7,000 people in the UK are waiting for an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their lives; most are waiting for a kidney, heart, lung or liver transplant. One donor can give life to several people.

The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential list of people who are willing to become donors after their death. You can join the register on-line, when you apply for a driving licence or passport, or when you register with a new GP.

Even if your name is on the register, your relatives will still be asked for their agreement. So, make sure that they know you are registered. It is also important to carry your donor card with you at all times.